Apple Invites vs Cactoide

Apple Invites lets people create party invitations, manage RSVPs, and host events. Hosts can personalize invitation backgrounds with a library photo or an image created with Image Playground, then add details using Apple Music, Photos, Maps, and other features. Each event can have up to 100 guests, and hosts can create unlimited events. Invitations can be sent by email, link, or SMS. Guests can RSVP in the iPhone app or at iCloud.com without needing the app, an Apple device, or an Apple Account. Hosts can add a Shared Album for guests to contribute event photos and videos. Guests with an Apple Music subscription can add songs to a collaborative event playlist. Hosts can require approval before guests join and choose whether the invitation cover is visible only to joined guests. Creating invitations requires an iCloud+ subscription. The listed 50GB iCloud+ plan is $0.99 a month and includes access to Apple Invites; plans can be shared with up to five additional family members at no extra cost, with personal information kept separate.

Cactoide is a free, open-source event RSVP platform for web use or self-hosting. Organizers create events without accounts, receive a unique URL, and share it through platforms or messaging apps. Guests follow the link and enter their name without registering. Events can accept unlimited responses or use a capacity limit, and special invite links can restrict participation to people who have them. Public events may be discovered and shared across connected Cactoide instances. Event pages provide ICS or webcal calendar links, with Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, and Outlook listed as compatible. Self-hosting documentation uses Docker Compose and a database; operators can enable federation with the FEDERATION_INSTANCE environment variable and configure instance details. The project is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and described as community-supported. Its README positions it as an alternative for small companies and groups. Proper internationalization is not implemented, although translation files are included.